EP0528830A1 - Coin discrimination apparatus. - Google Patents

Coin discrimination apparatus.

Info

Publication number
EP0528830A1
EP0528830A1 EP91908200A EP91908200A EP0528830A1 EP 0528830 A1 EP0528830 A1 EP 0528830A1 EP 91908200 A EP91908200 A EP 91908200A EP 91908200 A EP91908200 A EP 91908200A EP 0528830 A1 EP0528830 A1 EP 0528830A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
coin
window
width
signals
coins
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91908200A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0528830B1 (en
Inventor
Les Hutton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Crane Payment Innovations Ltd
Original Assignee
Coin Controls Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Application filed by Coin Controls Ltd filed Critical Coin Controls Ltd
Publication of EP0528830A1 publication Critical patent/EP0528830A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0528830B1 publication Critical patent/EP0528830B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Revoked legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
    • G07D5/00—Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
    • G07D5/08—Testing the magnetic or electric properties

Definitions

  • This invention relates to coin discrimination apparatus with improved discrimination between true and fraudulent coins and has particular but not exclusive application to a multi-coin validator.
  • the resonant circuits are driven by a variable frequency oscillator through a multiplexer.
  • the natural resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is altered due to the inductive coupling between the coin and the coil.
  • the circuit is maintained at its natural resonant frequency by means of a phase locked loop which alters the frequency of the oscillator so as to track the natural resonant frequency of the resonant circuit during passage of the coin passed the coil.
  • the amplitude of the oscilatory signal developed across the resonant circuit varies substantially on a transitory basis.
  • the amplitude deviation produced by passage of the coin past the coil is a function of the coin denomination.
  • three coin signals can be provided which uniquely characterise coins of a particular coin set e.g. the UK coin set.
  • the amplitude deviations produced by the three coils are digitised to produce the coin signals and are then compared with reference values stored in a programmable memory in order to discriminate between coins of different denominations, and frauds.
  • the data stored in the programmable memory is arranged to define windows of acceptable values for the coin signals.
  • the windows are required because true coins of a particular denomination exhibit minor deviations in the values of the coin signals from coin to coin and the windows are selected so as to encompass the range of values normally expected from coins of a particular denomination.
  • a coin is determined to be acceptable if the coin signals produced from the respective sensor coils each lie within the range of values defined by the windows stored in the memory.
  • first and second window widths are stored for each of first and second windows associated with the coin signals from first and second of the sensor means, the first window width corresponding to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of a particular denomination, and the second window width corresponding to the width of the distribution but excluding therefrom a range of values corresponding to fraudulent coins, and a coin under test is deemed to be acceptable upon the coin signals falling within the either a first or a second acceptance condition, wherein for the first acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the first window width of the first window, and the value of the second coin signal falls within the second window width of the second window, and for the second acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the second window width of the first window, and the value of the second coin signal falls within the first window width of the second window.
  • two independent acceptance conditions are permitted, wherein for the first condition, the range of values of coin signal corresponding to a fraudulent coin is excluded from the first window and, for the second acceptance condition, the range of coin values for fraudulent coins for the second coin signal are excluded from the width of the second window.
  • a substantially improved rejection rate of fraudulent coins is achieved.
  • the invention may include a third sensor means which in operation produces a coin signal within a window width which is substantially the same both for fraudulent coins and for acceptable coins of the particular denomination.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a multi-coin validator in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of discrimination circuitry connected to the sensor coils shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 consists of three graphs of coin population (n) plotted against the value of coin signal (x) produced for the sensor coils Cl, C2, C3, for true coins T of a particular denomination and false coins F, in which the false coin distribution overlaps the true coin distribution.
  • the apparatus consists of a coin path 1 along which coins under test roll edgewise past first, second and third sensor coils Cl, C2, C3. If the coin detected by the sensor coils is identified to be a true coin, a solenoid operated accept gate 2 is opened to allow the coin to pass along path la down an accept chute 3. If the coin is identified to have non-acceptable characteristics such as a fraudulent coin, the gate 2 is not opened and the coin passes along path lb to reject chute 4. - 1 - An accept coil C4 is provided in the accept chute 3, which is energised in such a manner as to detect the presence of acceptable coins.
  • Sensor coils Cl, and C3 are disposed on opposite sides of the coin path 1 and the coil C2 is arranged to wrap around the path such that its axis is parallel to the length thereof.
  • the three coils are energised at different but relative close frequencies Fl, F2, F3 in the KHz range.
  • the coils Cl, C2, C3 are shown schematically, energised at their respective different frequencies Fl, F2, F3 by means of drive circuitry 5.
  • Each of the coils is connected in a respective resonant circuit and as the coin rolls passed the coil, eddy type inductive coupling occurs between the coin and the coil, so as to alter the impedence of the resonant circuit. This produces a change in frequency and/or amplitude of the signal developed in the resonant circuit and this change is a function of the coin under test.
  • circuitry for frequency tracking is indicated generally by the circuit 5, which provides outputs c-, C j , c- indicative of the amplitude developed by the coils Cl, C2, C3 during passage of a coin under test, which are fed to a microprocessor 6.
  • the microprocessor operates in an idle mode in the absence of a coin under test so as to determine base values c Q1 , c Q2 , CQ,, of tne signals c., c 2 , c_.
  • the microprocessor switches to a coin sensing mode in which the values of the signals c are repetitively sampled as the coin passes the coils.
  • the microprocessor can compute the peak deviations of the signals c.,, c 2 , c 3 from the
  • An EEPROM 7 contains stored values indicative of acceptable coins.
  • the information is stored in terms of acceptance ranges or windows for the signals x 1 , x ⁇ ,
  • coin signals x each fall within the respective windows the microprocessor determines that the coin is of a particular denomination and energises the solenoid operated accept gate 2 such that the coin is directed to the accept chute 3 ( Figure 1) .
  • the windows stored in the EEPROM 7 should have window widths W, 1 , 2 ., 3 ,. These window widths are substantially coextensive with the width of the distributions T of values of x ⁇ x 2 , 3 .
  • the microprocessor 6 determines whether the respective signals from a particular coin under test x-, 2 , x 3 fall within the window ranges W., .,
  • the coin is accepted to be of a particular denomination corresponding to the stored window widths but otherwise is determined not to be of the particular denomination. Further sets of windows may be stored in the EEPROM corresponding to different denominations and the microprocessor may be arranged to check against all sets of windows. If the coin is found not to be of a stored denomination, it is rejected due to the fact that the microprocessor does not operate the accept gate 2 and consequently, the coin passes to the reject chute 4 ( Figure 1).
  • two alternative acceptance conditions are provided. This is achieved by programming two window widths in association with the windows 1 , and 2 .
  • the first window width corresponds to the width of the true coin
  • the second window width W., 2 corresponds to the range
  • the window width W- 2 is
  • the second window width W. 2 corresponds to the
  • the sensor C2 has an associated second window W 2 with first and second window widths 2 ..,
  • the first window width 2 corresponds to the entire
  • the second window width 2 2 corresponds to the width of
  • the distribution T but excludes therefrom values associated with the false coin distribution F and is stored as upper and lower limit values m, f in the EEPROM 7.
  • the characteristic of the sensor coil 3 is such that the true and false coin distributions F, T are substantially similar for the coin signal x 3 and
  • window width defined by upper and lower limits c, d corresponding to the width of the true coin distribution.
  • the microprocessor tests for a first acceptance condition for a particular set of coin signals x., x 2 , x 3 as follows:
  • the microprocessor 6 determines whether the coin signals satisfy a second acceptance condition as follows:
  • the microprocessor may then run through similar tests for different windows corresponding to different coin denominations.
  • the window widths may be determined during a setup phase during which a number of true coins and false coins are passed through a validator to determine the distribution F and T discussed in relation to Figure 3.
  • the advantage of providing the first and second acceptance conditions (1, 2) is that a substantially improved discrimination between true coins and fraudulent coins of similar characteristics is provided.
  • the first and second acceptance conditions (1, 2) are so arranged that each includes a window width B. ,, S, 5 which corresponds to a range of values
  • coin signals x are digitised amplitude deviations, it will be appreciated that they can be produced in other ways e.g. in terms of a frequency deviation. Also, sensors other than inductive coil sensors could be utilised.

Abstract

Dans un appareil de différenciation de pièces de monnaie, une pièce devant être examinée roule à côté d'un premier et d'un second détecteurs inductifs (C1, C2) qui produisent un premier signal de pièce et un second signal de pièce (X1, X2) en fonction de la pièce examinée. Les signaux de pièce sont comparés à des données définissant une première et une seconde fenêtres mémorisées (W1, W2) afin d'établir si la pièce est acceptable ou non. Selon cette invention, les données relatives aux première et seconde fenêtres (W1, W2) sont mémorisées respectivement afin de produire à la fois une première et une seconde largeurs de fenêtre (W11, W12; W21, W22), où la première largeur de fenêtre correspond à la largeur d'une distribution de signaux de pièces associés à des pièces acceptables d'une valeur particulière, et la seconde largeur de fenêtre correspond à la largeur de ladite distribution, mais en exclut une plage de valeurs correspondant à des pièces frauduleuses. Une pièce examinée est jugée acceptable si les signaux de pièces satisfont soit à une première soit à une seconde condition d'acceptation où, en ce qui concerne la première condition d'acceptation, la valeur du premier signal de pièces se situe dans la première largeur de fenêtre de la première fenêtre (W11), et la valeur du second signal de pièces se situe dans la seconde largeur de fenêtre de la seconde fenêtre (W22), et en ce qui concerne la seconde condition d'acceptation, la valeur du premier signal de pièce se situe dans la seconde largeur de fenêtre de la première fenêtre (W12) et la valeur du second signal de pièce se situe dans la première largeur de fenêtre de la seconde fenêtre (W21).In a coin differentiator, a coin to be examined rolls alongside first and second inductive sensors (C1, C2) which produce a first coin signal and a second coin signal (X1, X2) depending on the part examined. The part signals are compared with data defining first and second stored windows (W1, W2) to establish whether the part is acceptable or not. According to this invention, the data relating to the first and second windows (W1, W2) are stored respectively in order to produce both a first and a second window width (W11, W12; W21, W22), where the first window width corresponds to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of a particular value, and the second window width corresponds to the width of said distribution, but excludes a range of values corresponding to fraudulent coins. A coin examined is deemed acceptable if the coin signals satisfy either a first or a second acceptance condition where, with respect to the first acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal is within the first width window of the first window (W11), and the value of the second coin signal is located in the second window width of the second window (W22), and as regards the second acceptance condition, the value of the first room signal is in the second window width of the first window (W12) and the value of the second room signal is in the first window width of the second window (W21).

Description

COIN DISCRIMINATION APPARATUS
DESCRIPTION
This invention relates to coin discrimination apparatus with improved discrimination between true and fraudulent coins and has particular but not exclusive application to a multi-coin validator.
In a conventional multi-coin validator coins pass along a path past a number of sensor means in the form of a coils which are energised to produce an inductive coupling with the coin. The degree of interaction between the coin and the coil is a function of the relative size of the coin and coil, the material from which the coin is made and also its surface characteristics. Thus by monitoring the change in impedence presented by each coil, data indicative of the coin under test can be provided. The data can be compared with information stored in a memory to determine coin denomination and authenticity. Our UK Specification 2 169 429 discloses coin discrimination apparatus utilising a plurality of inductive sensor coils which are each included in a respective resonant circuit. The resonant circuits are driven by a variable frequency oscillator through a multiplexer. As the coin passes a particular coil, the natural resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is altered due to the inductive coupling between the coin and the coil. The circuit is maintained at its natural resonant frequency by means of a phase locked loop which alters the frequency of the oscillator so as to track the natural resonant frequency of the resonant circuit during passage of the coin passed the coil. As a result, the amplitude of the oscilatory signal developed across the resonant circuit varies substantially on a transitory basis. The amplitude deviation produced by passage of the coin past the coil is a function of the coin denomination. It has been found that by using three coils of different sizes and configurations, three coin signals can be provided which uniquely characterise coins of a particular coin set e.g. the UK coin set. The amplitude deviations produced by the three coils are digitised to produce the coin signals and are then compared with reference values stored in a programmable memory in order to discriminate between coins of different denominations, and frauds.
The data stored in the programmable memory is arranged to define windows of acceptable values for the coin signals. The windows are required because true coins of a particular denomination exhibit minor deviations in the values of the coin signals from coin to coin and the windows are selected so as to encompass the range of values normally expected from coins of a particular denomination.
A coin is determined to be acceptable if the coin signals produced from the respective sensor coils each lie within the range of values defined by the windows stored in the memory.
A problem arises that certain fraudulent coins e.g. a coin of a foreign coin set may have corresponding windows which overlap the windows of an acceptable coin, making it difficult to discriminate between a fraudulent and true coin.
The present invention provides a solution to this problem. In accordance with the present invention, first and second window widths are stored for each of first and second windows associated with the coin signals from first and second of the sensor means, the first window width corresponding to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of a particular denomination, and the second window width corresponding to the width of the distribution but excluding therefrom a range of values corresponding to fraudulent coins, and a coin under test is deemed to be acceptable upon the coin signals falling within the either a first or a second acceptance condition, wherein for the first acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the first window width of the first window, and the value of the second coin signal falls within the second window width of the second window, and for the second acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the second window width of the first window, and the value of the second coin signal falls within the first window width of the second window.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, two independent acceptance conditions are permitted, wherein for the first condition, the range of values of coin signal corresponding to a fraudulent coin is excluded from the first window and, for the second acceptance condition, the range of coin values for fraudulent coins for the second coin signal are excluded from the width of the second window. In this way, in accordance with the invention, a substantially improved rejection rate of fraudulent coins is achieved.
The invention may include a third sensor means which in operation produces a coin signal within a window width which is substantially the same both for fraudulent coins and for acceptable coins of the particular denomination.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a multi-coin validator in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of discrimination circuitry connected to the sensor coils shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 consists of three graphs of coin population (n) plotted against the value of coin signal (x) produced for the sensor coils Cl, C2, C3, for true coins T of a particular denomination and false coins F, in which the false coin distribution overlaps the true coin distribution.
Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus consists of a coin path 1 along which coins under test roll edgewise past first, second and third sensor coils Cl, C2, C3. If the coin detected by the sensor coils is identified to be a true coin, a solenoid operated accept gate 2 is opened to allow the coin to pass along path la down an accept chute 3. If the coin is identified to have non-acceptable characteristics such as a fraudulent coin, the gate 2 is not opened and the coin passes along path lb to reject chute 4. - 1 - An accept coil C4 is provided in the accept chute 3, which is energised in such a manner as to detect the presence of acceptable coins.
Sensor coils Cl, and C3 are disposed on opposite sides of the coin path 1 and the coil C2 is arranged to wrap around the path such that its axis is parallel to the length thereof. The three coils are energised at different but relative close frequencies Fl, F2, F3 in the KHz range.
This general configuration is described in more detail in our UK Patent Specification 2 169 429.
Referring to Figure 2, the coils Cl, C2, C3 are shown schematically, energised at their respective different frequencies Fl, F2, F3 by means of drive circuitry 5. Each of the coils is connected in a respective resonant circuit and as the coin rolls passed the coil, eddy type inductive coupling occurs between the coin and the coil, so as to alter the impedence of the resonant circuit. This produces a change in frequency and/or amplitude of the signal developed in the resonant circuit and this change is a function of the coin under test. In our UK Patent Specification 2 169 429, a system is described in which the frequency of energisation of the coil is arranged to track the natural resonant frequency of the resonant circuit as the coin passes the coil, and in this way, a large amplitude deviation is produced, which can be monitored in order to provide an indication of coin denomination. Due to the differences in size and configuration of the three coils, Cl, C2, C3 each coil produces a different value of peak amplitude deviation for a particular coin and the three peak amplitude deviations for a particular coin provide a substantially unique definition of the coin under test. Thus, by comparing the peak amplitude deviations with stored values indicative of acceptable coins, an indication of coin acceptability can be provided. Reference is directed to our Patent Specification aforesaid for a more detailed description of the manner in which the frequency tracking may be carried out. In Figure 2 hereof, the circuitry for frequency tracking is indicated generally by the circuit 5, which provides outputs c-, Cj, c- indicative of the amplitude developed by the coils Cl, C2, C3 during passage of a coin under test, which are fed to a microprocessor 6.
The microprocessor operates in an idle mode in the absence of a coin under test so as to determine base values cQ1, cQ2, CQ,, of tne signals c., c2, c_. In
response to a coin, the microprocessor switches to a coin sensing mode in which the values of the signals c are repetitively sampled as the coin passes the coils. As a result, the microprocessor can compute the peak deviations of the signals c.,, c2, c3 from the
respective base values c0-, cQ-, cQ3 whilst the coin
passes the coils. As previously explained, these peak deviation signals substantially uniquely characterise the coin under test and will be referred to herein as coin signals x., x2, x3 for the coils Cl, C2, C3
respectively.
An EEPROM 7 contains stored values indicative of acceptable coins. The information is stored in terms of acceptance ranges or windows for the signals x1, x~,
x_ and an individual set of windows is provided for each coin denomination. It is necessary to provide windows because the characteristics of individual coins of a particular denomination vary slightly from coin to coin. Thus, for an individual coin denomination, stored windows «, 2, W3 are provided for comparison
with the coin signals x,f 2, x3 respectively. If the
coin signals x each fall within the respective windows the microprocessor determines that the coin is of a particular denomination and energises the solenoid operated accept gate 2 such that the coin is directed to the accept chute 3 (Figure 1) .
Referring now to Figure 3, this shows the distribution of values of the coin signals x_, x2, x3 produced for a
distribution of coins of a particular denomination fed through the validator. For example, if a hundred coins of a particular denomination e.g. UK 5p were fed through the validator, the distribution of the values of the coin signals x,, x2, x~ as a function of coin
number n is shown by the distribution curves referenced T. Thus, conventionally, it has been considered that the windows stored in the EEPROM 7 should have window widths W, 1, 2 ., 3 ,. These window widths are substantially coextensive with the width of the distributions T of values of x^ x2, 3. Thus
conventionally, the microprocessor 6 determines whether the respective signals from a particular coin under test x-, 2, x3 fall within the window ranges W., .,
W2 . and W3 - . If all three conditions are satisfied
the coin is accepted to be of a particular denomination corresponding to the stored window widths but otherwise is determined not to be of the particular denomination. Further sets of windows may be stored in the EEPROM corresponding to different denominations and the microprocessor may be arranged to check against all sets of windows. If the coin is found not to be of a stored denomination, it is rejected due to the fact that the microprocessor does not operate the accept gate 2 and consequently, the coin passes to the reject chute 4 (Figure 1).
Whilst this arrangement is generally satisfactory, a problem arises in that certain fraudulent coins have produced distributions of values of coin signals x. ,
x2, x3, referenced F in Figure 3, which overlap the distributions T for a true coin. Thus, it is possible for a fraudulent coin to produce a set of coin signals x., x2, x3 which fall within the window widths W. -,
2 ., 3 ,. Thus, the fraudulent coin would be accepted
as a true coin.
In accordance with the invention, two alternative acceptance conditions are provided. This is achieved by programming two window widths in association with the windows 1, and 2.
Considering firstly the sensor coil Cl, the window W.
for this coil has a first window width W.. 1 and a
second window width W. 2. These window widths are
shown schematically in Figure 3a. The first window width , . corresponds to the width of the true coin
distribution T and is stored in the EEPROM 7 as upper and lower limits a, b respectively.
The second window width W., 2 corresponds to the range
of values of x, for which the distributions F, T do not overlap, i.e. values which are unambiguously associated with a true coin. The window width W- 2 is
stored as upper and lower limits 1, b in the EEPROM 7. Thus, the second window width W. 2 corresponds to the
width of the true coin distribution T but excludes the values associated with the false coin.
Similarly, the sensor C2 has an associated second window W2 with first and second window widths 2 ..,
w2 2.
The first window width 2 , corresponds to the entire
width of the true coin distribution T and is held in
EEPROM 7 as upper and lower limits e, f. The second window width 2 2 corresponds to the width of
the distribution T but excludes therefrom values associated with the false coin distribution F and is stored as upper and lower limit values m, f in the EEPROM 7.
The characteristic of the sensor coil 3 is such that the true and false coin distributions F, T are substantially similar for the coin signal x3 and
consequently, the window W3 is stored with only one
window width defined by upper and lower limits c, d corresponding to the width of the true coin distribution.
In accordance with the invention the microprocessor tests for a first acceptance condition for a particular set of coin signals x., x2, x3 as follows:
1 < x. < b; e < x < f; c ≤ x3 < d (1)
If the values of the coin signals x-, x2, x_ satisfy
the first condition (1) the coin is accepted as being of a particular denomination. If the coin signals do not satisfy condition (1), the microprocessor 6 determines whether the coin signals satisfy a second acceptance condition as follows:
a < x., < b; m < x, < f; c ≤ x, < d (2) If the coin signals satisfy condition (2) the coin is accepted as being of the particular denomination; otherwise the coin is determined not to be of the particular denomination.
The microprocessor may then run through similar tests for different windows corresponding to different coin denominations.
The various window widths wι i r W. 2, W2 ., W 9 2' W3
can be programmed into the EEPROM, typically, but not necessarily during manufacture of the validator. The window widths may be determined during a setup phase during which a number of true coins and false coins are passed through a validator to determine the distribution F and T discussed in relation to Figure 3.
The advantage of providing the first and second acceptance conditions (1, 2) is that a substantially improved discrimination between true coins and fraudulent coins of similar characteristics is provided. The first and second acceptance conditions (1, 2) are so arranged that each includes a window width B. ,, S, 5 which corresponds to a range of values
of coin signal unambiguously associated with a true coin. The other two requirements of each acceptance condition provide an indication that the coin generally corresponds to the expected distribution T for the particular coin signal. In this way substantially improved coin discrimination between true and fraudulent coins is achieved. Whilst in the foregoing, coin signals x are digitised amplitude deviations, it will be appreciated that they can be produced in other ways e.g. in terms of a frequency deviation. Also, sensors other than inductive coil sensors could be utilised.

Claims

1. Coin discrimination apparatus comprising: means defining a path (1) for the passage of coins under test, first and second sensor means (Cl, C2) for sensing a coin during its passage along the path means (5) responsive to said sensor means for producing first and second coin signals (x-, x2) for the first
and second sensor means respectively, the coin signals having values in dependence upon the coin under test, memory means (7) storing data for defining first and second windows (W., W2) each having a width for
acceptable values of the coin signals, and, means (6) for comparing said coin signals with data stored in said memory to determine if the coin signals fall within the windows, characterised in that the data for the first and second windows (W., 2) are
stored respectively for providing both a first and a second window width (W.-, W-2 21, W22), wherein the
first window width corresponds to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of a particular denomination, and the second window width corresponds to the width of said distribution but excludes therefrom a range of values corresponding to fraudulent coins, and a coin under test is deemed to be acceptable upon the coin signals falling either within a first or a second acceptance condition wherein, for the first acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the first window width of the first window (W,.), and the value of the second
coin signal falls within the second window width of the second window (W22), and
for the second acceptance condition the value of the first coin signal falls within the second window width of the first window (W-2), and the value of the second
coin signal falls within the first window width of the second window ( 21).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a third sensor means (C3) for sensing the passage of a coin along the path for producing a third coin signal
(x3) said memory means storing data for defining a
third window (W3) of a width corresponding to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of said particular denomination, wherein said first and second acceptance conditions require the third coin signal to be within the width of the third window.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said memory means (7) includes data for defining a plurality of sets of windows corresponding to coins of different denominations.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the memory means (7) comprises an EEPROM.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said comparing means (6) comprises a microprocessor.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein said sensor means (C) includes a plurality of inductive sensor coils arranged to produce respective different inductive couplings with a coin under test.
7. Coin discrimination apparatus according to any preceding claim including an accept gate (2) operated to accept a coin in response to said first or second acceptance condition.
8. A method of discriminating between coins comprising performing first and second tests upon a coin so as to develop first and second coin signals (x., x2) in dependence upon the coin under test, and
comparing the coin signals with windows (W-, 2) each
having a width for acceptable values of the coin signals characterised in that the data for the first and second windows (W., 2) are
stored respectively for providing both a first and a second window width (W.-, -2; 2l, W22), wherein the
first window width corresponds to the width of a distribution of coin signals associated with acceptable coins of a particular denomination, and the second window width corresponds to the width of said distribution but excludes therefrom a range of values corresponding to fraudulent coins, and a coin under test is deemed to be acceptable upon the coin signals falling either within a first or a second acceptance condition wherein, for the first acceptance condition, the value of the first coin signal falls within the first window width of the first window (W,,), and the value of the second
coin signal falls within the second window width of the second window (W22), and
for the second acceptance condition the value of the first coin signal falls within the second window width of the first window (W.2), and the value of the second
coin signal falls within the first window width of the second window (W21) .
9. A method according to claim 8 including performing a third test on the coin to produce a third coin signal (x3). and comparing the third coin signal
with a third window (W3), wherein the first and second
accpetance conditions require the third coin signal to be within the width of the third window.
10. A method according to claim 8 or 9 including comparing the coin signals with a plurality of sets of windows corresponding to coins of different denominations.
EP91908200A 1990-05-14 1991-04-30 Coin discrimination apparatus Revoked EP0528830B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909010766A GB9010766D0 (en) 1990-05-14 1990-05-14 Coin discrimination apparatus
GB9010766 1990-05-14
PCT/GB1991/000685 WO1991018372A1 (en) 1990-05-14 1991-04-30 Coin discrimination apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0528830A1 true EP0528830A1 (en) 1993-03-03
EP0528830B1 EP0528830B1 (en) 1995-04-26

Family

ID=10675958

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91908200A Revoked EP0528830B1 (en) 1990-05-14 1991-04-30 Coin discrimination apparatus

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WO1991018372A1 (en) 1991-11-28
AU648557B2 (en) 1994-04-28
DE69109287D1 (en) 1995-06-01
AU7765791A (en) 1991-12-10
JPH05508491A (en) 1993-11-25
GB9010766D0 (en) 1990-07-04
DE69109287T2 (en) 1996-01-04
EP0528830B1 (en) 1995-04-26
ES2073749T3 (en) 1995-08-16
US5379876A (en) 1995-01-10

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